Danger of Putting Dry Ice in the Swimming Pool
Read this before putting dry ice in the swimming pool for fun!
Dry ice, which is frozen carbon dioxide, is -109.3 degrees Fahrenheit. Instead of melting, it sublimates, turning directly back into a gas as it comes in contact with a warmer temperature. It has many commercial and consumer uses, like preserving frozen goods or creating fog in theatre productions. One entertaining trick some people pull off with dry ice is throwing pounds of it in a swimming pool and watching the CO2 fog rise dramatically. If this sounds like good fun to you, here’s what you should know before putting dry ice in the swimming pool.
Dry Ice Tragedy
Earlier this year in 2020, news spread of a Russian Instagram influencer Katerina Didenko’s 29th birthday pool party that went tragically wrong. Didenko’s husband poured 55 pounds of dry ice into an indoor pool for dramatic effect. The pool was small and in a closed space. A few began to jump into the pool, and shortly afterward, people began fainting. There were three deaths and seven hospitalized for severe injury; one of the dead was Didenko’s husband, who was 32 years old.
The Danger of Dry Ice
Carbon dioxide is what human beings naturally produce when exhaling, and fainting or suffocation occurs when one cannot exhale. It is why someone would feel faint after holding their breath for a long time. Inhaling an excess of carbon dioxide also has this suffocating effect, which is why it is crucial to know several safety precautions before handling frozen carbon dioxide.
Safety with Dry Ice
Dry ice is a very cold substance and can easily cause frostbite. Whether indoors or outdoors, consumers should never let dry ice touch the skin, but rather use tongs or heavy-duty gloves to manage it. The other part of dry ice safety is to use and store it in a well-ventilated area. If transporting it in a vehicle, crack the windows. If inside a house or school, you can also crack the windows. Never store it in an airtight container.
Experiments with Dry Ice
There is plenty of fun that can be had with dry ice, but putting dry ice in the swimming pool requires a high level of caution. If you do want to try it out, handle with gloves or tongs, use an outdoor pool, and never swim in it while the CO2 pieces are sublimating. If you have a smaller pool, only put in a minimal amount of dry ice. Here, less is more.
Dry Ice For All Your Needs
Dry Ice Corp is the largest regional supplier of dry ice and related products in the Northeastern United States. Our dry ice is fresh and delivered right to your doorstep. We are happy to help you determine the best way to ship your goods, whether you have a huge amount of cookies or a single pie, and help you select the perfect amount of dry ice for the job. Give us a call at (201) 767-3200 or contact us online for a quote. To connect with us online, be sure to follow us on Facebook, Pinterest, and Twitter.
